Innovative solutions for the last mile in healthcare logistics

How can pharmacies reach their customers even better? New challenges for pharma  logistics on the last mile – from local round-the-clock availability to individually dispensed medicines – demand new system solutions to meet end customers’ needs.

Read on and watch our video about pharmacy solutions to learn about applications of our market-specific last mile solutions for healthcare logistics.

Centralized dispensing offers a way to provide patients with healthcare products and prescription medicines quickly and simply. In centralized dispensing, medicines are distributed via distribution centers or hub and spoke systems. Prescriptions arrive from doctors or pharmacies in electronic form and are filled for each patient individually. The order can then be sent either directly to the patient or to the pharmacy. Our smart system solution for centralized dispensing is Pack2Patient. Pack2Patient fills patient orders automatically, securely and with high efficiency. It also guarantees end-to-end traceability of medicines.

For Phoenix Healthcare Distribution, our Pack2Patient solution guarantees efficient and safe filling of repeat prescriptions for patients at their location in Runcorn, England. Phoenix uses the hub and spoke solution to fill repeat prescriptions, processing an average of 1.7 million items a month for pharmacies in England, Scotland and Wales. The facility in Runcorn is one of the largest automated pharmacies in the UK. Read our press release published in January 2022.

The US market has high demands for pharmacy fulfillment. Unlike in many other markets, each prescription is custom-filled into a plastic vial labeled with the patient’s name and sent directly to the pharmacy (central fill) or end customer (mail order).

But that’s no problem for our pros: Together, our Automated Tablet Dispenser (ATD) and the KNAPP Medication Dispenser (KMeD) form our system solution Mail Order Central Fill (MOCF). Our reliable automation solution for pharma logistics takes care of the entire prescription. Each vial for each patient is automatically labeled, filled, packaged and mailed either to the pharmacy or directly to the patient’s home.

Process reliability and quality are top priority. The reliable replenishment process is transparent and allows end-to-end traceability. The failsafe tablet separation process can be calibrated as needed and ensures that medications are accurately dispensed into the vials. The system also detects broken pills and capsules. Additionally, all materials that come into contact with medication have been certified by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Preparing and organizing medicines can be a big challenge for patients and their caregivers. It’s a major responsibility where accuracy is key. Some patients have difficulty pressing the small, individually packaged tablets out of the blister pack and then re-sorting them. Pharmacies can help ensure patients take their medication correctly by managing and preparing medication, which includes preparing blister pack pill organizers for patients who need them. However, this is time-consuming and must be done by trained personnel.

Our automated solution, the Daily Dose Dispenser system for smart pharma logistics, supports pharmacy staff in this task. The system organizes all the patient’s medicine into one blister pack, with each dose packaged separately. Our Daily Dose Dispenser creates added value both for patients and their families and for blister centers and pharmacies. The fully automatic dispenser is the world’s first system that is able to create patient-specific, multi-dose blister packs directly from original blister packs. As an all-in-one solution, the system not only includes the automation of all blistering processes that are mainly carried out manually but also includes the required software and customer services.

Demands being placed on new pharma logistics solutions in the pharmacy itself have also grown more complex. Pharmacy owners are being confronted with an increased need for higher storage and throughput capacities, while still having a limited amount of space to work with. More and more patients want to be able to pick up medicines around the clock, unrestricted by pharmacy opening hours.

Our integrated Apostore solutions meet this demand. Apostore provides the perfect solution for each pharmacy’s needs and is customizable to meet current demands. Additional 24/7 terminals and information screens inside the pharmacy allow us to offer customers an optimal experience.